Web currents [Apr. 2002]

ADMINISTRATIVE

URTS OF GEORGIA

Web Currents OFFICEOFTHECO 1973

April 2002

A Publication of the Administrative Office of the Georgia Courts www.georgiacourts.org

Vol. 2 No. 1

Ratley Named to Joint Technology Committee

David L. Ratley, Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts, has been appointed to serve on the Joint Technology Committee (JTC) of the Conference of State Court Administrators and the National Association of Court Managers (COSCA/NACM). The JTC oversees the development of Legal XML, sets technology standards for the courts, and approves standards after they have been tested.
The JTC has set an aggressive agenda for this year. The JTC will meet in

the early spring to recommend approval of the Court Filing Version 1.1 standard for electronic filing. The committee will soon distribute criminal functional standards. Domestic, juvenile, traffic, and probate standards are nearing completion as well. These standards will provide court administrators, clerks, and judicial planning committees with a model for implementing or generating requests for proposals to create a comprehensive case management system. The standards are already being used in several jurisdictions nationally.

National Software Component Exchange

State Chief Information Officers are constructing an online exchange designed to promote the reuse of components when building computer applications used by state governments. This consortium is known as the National Software Component Exchange. ComponentSource, Inc. of Kennesaw will maintain the central repository. Each state will be charged a fee of $1,750 to participate.
Georgia CIO Larry Singer is leading the initiative. Technically, a component is a set of instructions in computer code to perform a certain task. A large information system is composed of many different components to complete various tasks. Software for permits and licenses could be

shared along with motor vehicle services and eligibility for social services.
The program will also give vendors that specialize in creating components a chance to channel to state governments. Some are concerned about states sharing proprietary software. This will not be an issue if states share components they have developed themselves.
Arkansas has already shared with Georgia three components for an online motor vehicle registration system with estimated savings of $45,000. Other benefits of component sharing include faster application development, higher quality software, and lower risk. Singer expects the cost savings to spill over to taxpayers as well.

Mr. Ratley's experience as a trial court administrator will provide the JTC with a "real world" perspective. Mr. Ratley stated, "I encourage trial courts to visit the National Center for State Courts website (www.nscsonline.org) and study the standards. I am sure that the next generation of case manage-
David Ratley ment systems will provide users with flexible systems that will have the `touch and feel' of custom designed applications that truly meet the individual needs of the court and the clerks office."
InsidWe EB CURRENTS
Atlanta's Traffic Court Wins Award . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 2
Fulton County Launches Family Division Website . . pg. 3
Electronic Court Filing Interoperability Pilot . . . . pg.4
Currently . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 5
Future of Voting Technology . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 6
Online Travel . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 8
Desktop Monitoring . . . . . .pg. 10

2

WEB CURRENTS

April 2002

Atlanta's Traffic Court Wins Award

Mattie Thompson Director, City Court of Atlanta
The Georgia Council of Court Administrators recently awarded the City Court of Atlanta the Program of the Year Award for its "Interactive Commercial Web Site." Each year at the annual meeting held in Savannah, the Council honors a court program that exemplifies effective and efficient court administration by improving the quality of justice delivered to the community that the court serves.
"Such distinctions promote the highest ideals of well-managed courts and the mission of our Council," said David L. Ratley, AOC director.
"This unique website serves the public by allowing them to contact the court for certified copies of traffic tickets, arrange for court interpreters, and pay for traffic fines without extra convenience fees in addition to pro-

viding valuable information for pro se defendants and the public," stated Director Mattie L. Thompson. Soon the website will provide inclement weather information, profiles of the
www.atlantatrafficcourt.com judges, and links to other helpful Internet locations.
"We are all very proud of this award as it demonstrates that the courts are changing to meet the needs of our culturally diverse community," stated Chief Judge Edward L. Baety. "We want the citizens to know that

we are listening to their concerns and implementing programs that improve the quality of justice, which in turn strengthens the public's confidence in their courts," Judge Baety continued. Prior recipients of the Georgia Council of Court Administrators awards have been Gwinnett County for its video warrant project and Cobb County's method of allowing jurors to donate their service pay to county programs.
COMMENT FROM THE WEBMASTER
Please visit this award-winning site!
www.atlantatrafficcourt.com
It is packed with timely information and easy to use. The navigation aids are
clearly displayed -- not a bad model.

Valdosta State University Joins Web Design Consortium

David L. Ratley, Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts of Georgia, recently announced that contractual negotiations have been finalized with Valdosta State University to provide services with the Web Design Consortium. The Web Design Consortium is an innovative project that has received widespread praise throughout Georgia. The Consortium was created in July 2000 to design, enhance, manage, and post web sites for the courts and judicial agencies of Georgia. The project has experienced tremendous growth since its creation.
The addition of Valdosta State University will provide web develop-

ment services to courts and judicial agencies in the southern part of Georgia. The project will make it particularly convenient to work with courts and agencies in the Second Judicial Administrative District. Mr. Ratley expressed thanks to Mr. John Cowart, Second District Court Administrator for his support.
Dr. Thomas A. Carnevale, Head of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Sciences, has assigned the project to Dr. David Gibson, also of the Department. Dr. Gibson has already begun working on a number of projects. Mr. Thomas Archibald, Assistant to the President for Information Technology, stated that

he completely supports the project and said that he is excited that the University will have this opportunity to work with the Judicial Branch of Georgia.
If you would like to meet with a representative of the AOC meet and discuss a website, please call Greg Arnold, 404-656-6413, or Brian Collins, 404-463-0837. Remember that there is not a charge for this service whether you are building a new site, upgrading an existing site, or need assistance with your present site.

April 2002

WEB CURRENTS

3

Fulton County Superior Court Launches

its Family Division Website

The Fulton County Superior Court officially began its Family Division on July 1, 1998. On July 1, 1999, the court launched its preliminary "on-line" website. The website is now fully functional and completely implemented. This event marked the oneyear anniversary of the Family Division and served as another milestone in the development of the Superior Court. The Internet address, or URL, for the Family Division web site is: www.fultonfamilydivision.com
The Family Division website is a source of comprehensive information

for the Fulton County Superior Court Family Division. The website provides information on:
1. Historical development of the Family Division 2. Rules and procedures for practicing in Fulton County Family Division 3. Bank forms and packets used to file domestic petitions in Fulton County 4. Comprehensive link system to legal associations, other courts that have domestic court parts, family and children organizations, and domestic law training opportunities 5. Direct access to the Family Law

Sandersville Technical College Joins Consortium

Information System 6. Questions and Answers on marriage or matrimonial issues 7. Articles discussing the progress of the Family Division 8. Upcoming seminars And much, much more!
There is also a staff directory of Family Division judges and their court personnel. The staff directory provides names, addresses and telephone numbers of key staff in each judge's chambers as well as the contact people for the Family Division administrative office.
Through the initiation of this website, the Family Division has taken one more step in providing user responsive access to justice and creating accessibility to the Superior Court system of Fulton County.

Chief Judge Walter C. McMillan, Jr.; Juvenile Court Judge Tom Rawlings; President

schools can expand their mission to meet the needs of our state. We look forward to a successful effort with the

Jack Sterret of the Sandersville

judiciary."

Technical College, and representatives

Sandersville Technical College is

from the AOC were present for the

developing case reporting applications

signing of a contract with the Web

using the Internet. Courts will be

Design

able to use the

Consortium in

applications to

late Fall of

report quarterly

2001. In addi-

or annual case-

tion, Dr. Ken

load data. This

Breeden of the

will reduce data

Georgia

entry transcrip-

Department of

tion, speed up

Technical and

the reporting

Adult Education (DTAE) sent his

Vince Harris (signing) and other representatives of the AOC join Chief Judge McMillan, Judge Rawlings and others in recognition of the con-

process, and reduce postage costs, and lost

regrets for not tract awarded to Sandersville Technical Institute. mail.

being able to

Magistrate

attend the event. Dr. Breeden praised and Probate Court entry forms are

the Judicial Branch and the

nearing completion and will soon be

Sandersville Technical Institute for its tested by users across the state. It is

forward thinking. He said, "This is

expected that full implementation

another example of how our technical will take place in the summer quarter.

Georgia Public Schools Working with AOL
Students in Georgia public schools will soon be using AOL@School, an educational program from America Online, Inc. The Internet will be further incorporated into the classroom with this free service, offering six age-appropriate portals with educational content, e-mail, instant messaging, and research tools. Schools in Florida, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia already use the service. The service will provide a specially configured search engine to return prescreened links. There will also be special content tailored for Georgia where students can learn about local history and geography. Information will also be available for teachers and administrators on state testing programs, content standards, and teaching resources.

4

WEB CURRENTS

April 2002

Electronic Court Filing Interoperability Pilot Update

Jerry Garland GCAC E-Filing Project Manager
As this pilot project continues and moves closer to completion, the Georgia Courts Automation Commission (GCAC) continues to work with its original private vendors to test electronic court filing interoperability in four separate courts in Georgia. After reviewing initial bids and aligning these vendors with courts opting to participate, GCAC accepted E.Filing.com and CourtLink Corporation who were already established as electronic filers in Chatham and Fulton County state courts respectively. Additionally, Verilaw Technologies, Inc. was assigned to Whitfield County Superior Court and @Court Inc. to Douglas County Superior Court.
In the initial phase of the pilot, which E.filing.com and CourtLink have already mastered, civil cases are

filed electronically into the courts' case management systems after the electronic documents have been reviewed and accepted by the individual clerks. The challenge for Verilaw in Whitfield and @Court in Douglas counties was to develop an interface which would be the bridge from their software to that of the courts' case management systems that accept the filing electronically. Verilaw is working with the local developer, Dalton Computer Inc., for the Whitfield court. @Court is working with GCAC, which has developed the interface for SUSTAIN Technologies, Inc., for Douglas County.
While each individual court is receiving these civil cases electronically, behind the scenes the software that makes this happen is coding the information into an open, non-proprietary language called Legal XML (extensible markup language). The routine documents then become "smart" documents, which can be

received and interpreted by other courts without further human intervention. This interoperability permits the filer or the court to utilize these smart documents to file into another court, i.e., federal court, or a change in jurisdiction without the need to reaccomplish the case file prior to filing again. This is the next step or Phase II for the Pilot that will soon be finished. GCAC anticipates that a final report will be available very shortly.
Electronic filing is fast becoming the means to reduce the paper process for courts and at the same time save court personnel vast amounts of time required for the manual filing of court documents. This pilot project hopes to prove the concept of electronic court filing interoperability. It appears, at this point, that the Georgia courts are well on their way.
If you would like more information regarding this project, contact Jerry Garland at GCAC, 404-651-8165.

Georgia Magistrate Court Information System

Jimmy Hill, GCAC Program Developer
The Georgia Courts Automation Commission has developed the Georgia Magistrate Court Information System (MCIS). MCIS replaces the Georgia Fee & Fine System, (GAFEE), in use in many counties since 1992. GCAC staff and contractors worked with Judge Pete Pfeiffer, Chief Magistrate of Crisp County, and his staff in the development effort. To date MCIS has been installed in 17 Magistrate Courts statewide. It is available to all Magistrate Courts in Georgia.
MCIS goes beyond the receipting and accounting functions of GAFEE to include electronic docketing and document preparation and storage.

The accounting function of MCIS consists of receipting all monies that pass through the court, including fees, fines, and restitution; automatically distributing funds in accordance with state law and local options such as printing checks; and producing a variety of accounting and management reports, including the Quarterly Case Load report required by the AOC.
The docketing function includes access to case information by case number, case type, or party name; automatic case numbering; electronic docketing with prompts; the capability to produce and store over 150 document types; the production of court calendars; and dating critical reports.
MCIS is based on Microsoft Access

PLEASE

2000 and can be run on a standalone PC, client-server, or peer-to-peer network. The minimum requirements for each PC are 64 megabytes of RAM and Windows 95.
Software, installation, training, and support are provided by GCAC at no cost to the court. Magistrate Courts wishing to be scheduled for installation or with questions should contact the Georgia Courts Automation Commission Help Desk at 800-2988203.
RECYCLE

April 2002

WEB CURRENTS

5

Currently...

Internet Security: Is the Battle Over?
Hardly a week passes without a virus attack over the Internet, and new warnings that the latest virus definitions are out-of-date. Is the average user facing a losing battle or has it finally degenerated into a sloppy retreat with a futile rear-guard action? Maybe so, if the warning by Scot Petersen of eWeek is credible.
Petersen reports that Bruce Schneier, a leading Internet security expert and cryptographer, said that the future of Internet security is not very good even though new methods are being invented to combat the growing problems. Petersen dismissed cryptography as a failsafe means of protecting data during transmission or once it reaches its final storage destination.
Petersen advocates the use of combinations of cryptography, public key infrastructure, intrusion detection systems, front-line firewalls, and a 24 X 7 monitoring team to at least minimize assaults on computer systems and networks. Presently, most court systems are hard pressed to provide this level of security from people-driven attacks -- in fact, most of us find virus protection difficult.

A System Administrator's Perspective

Ken Honea Kennesaw State University
Exciting innovations are on the horizon for www.georgiacourts.org. I have installed a new web server at Kennesaw State University to support the growing needs of the Judicial Branch of Georgia Web Design Consortium. The new server is a compact, rack mountable Gateway 7250R; it is only 19 inches wide, 3.5 inches tall and 24 inches deep. It has a Pentium III processor on the inside and seven green lights on the front.
However, that is not what is most interesting about the new server. The most fascinating aspect of the new technology is all of the new services and applications that are currently being developed for the server. The Kennesaw team and I are in the later stages of testing a new list serve application that will be available to judges and administrators for e-mail based discussion lists with archiving and threading of topics. They are also in the process of bringing online many more circuits and courts in the web directory.
The job of administering this server is quite possibly the most

challenging and rewarding experience I have had in my years as Systems Administrator of Computer Science and Information Systems at Kennesaw State University. It has been most exciting working with the Web Design Consortium. The experience of bringing people and technology together is my greatest satisfaction.
It is a tireless effort to maintain the security and accessibility of such a great public resource. We are using the Apache web server running on the LINUX operating system. This is not only cost effective, but also very secure. Both LINUX and Apache are free and Open Source. Using Open Source software means that we have the flexibility to make modifications to meet our unique needs unlike commercial products. Also, updates are more frequent and timely since Open Source applications and operating systems are constantly maintained by their respective consortiums. Security is a foremost concern with the Judicial Branch website; however, flexibility of use and the addition of resources and applications will continue to be a key goal of all our work.

Do you have any questions or comments about Web Currents? Call Greg Arnold at 404.656.6413 or
e-mail him (arnoldg@aoc.courts.state.ga.us).

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WEB CURRENTS

The Future of Voting Technology

April 2002

Considering the problems encountered in the last election with old voting machines, election officials in several states have begun to turn their attention to updating their systems by considering new voting methods and technology.
The Search for Problem-Free Voting Technology
In the wake of the 2000 presidential election, questions have arisen concerning the legitimacy of elections in which punch ballots are used, and lawsuits have even been filed to halt the use of old punch card ballots and lever machines. Now election officials are looking for voting technology and methods that can avoid problems, such as hanging chads, encountered with manual voting machines, but without sacrificing ease, efficiency, and security. Recently Secretary of State Cathy Cox has begun to review Georgia's voting methods, and it appears that electronic voting is just over the horizon. More on this development in a later issue of Web Currents.
Some states have experimented with remote Internet voting to study its potential. Remote Internet voting is the casting of an official ballot over the Internet from a computer at home, work, or another remote location. Voting jurisdictions in Arizona, California, and Washington offered voters a chance to vote over the Internet in the past election. Election officials hope that Internet voting, when finally implemented, will increase the percentage of eligible voters who actually vote, especially among younger voters. Voter feedback from these experiments was positive with most participants suggest-

ing they would opt for online voting if given a choice between that and going to the polls. However, the problems associated with Internet voting were evident in some of these experiments. Computers locked up, network connections went down, and voters were confused about how to vote. The system's security was not tested by hackers like it will certainly be if Internet voting is implemented
broadly across the country. The tests suffered from some expected problems but they showed promise for Internet voting. Jurisdictions in several other states are considering Internet voting experiments of their own in the upcoming year.
Despite the problems encountered in the experiments, some Internetbased voting companies continue to push for immediate implementation of Internet voting and insist they are prepared to handle a major election. However, most Internet voting vendors have lessened their push for remote Internet voting right now and have begun to adapt to the current market by offering electronic voting machines designed for use in an actual polling place. Election analysts and

officials believe that nationwide remote Internet voting is something that may become more feasible in the future, but the transition to such a system must be made slowly to ensure its security and reliability.
Election officials across the country have begun looking into purchasing newer voting machines that they hope will enable their precincts to avoid a situation similar to what occurred in Florida during the 2000 Presidential election. In California, the Secretary of State's office brought
together several vendors to display the latest in voting technology at the Election Technology Expo. With an eye for reliable but affordable machines, election
officials from across the state came together to see and experiment with the newest election technologies. All of these new machines feature simple controls, such as touch screens, dials, and buttons geared toward making the voting process less confusing and more efficient. Some of the machines are Internet-based machines, and some machines store voting results on a local hard drive that no one can hack.
Will Prohibitive Costs Stall Progress in Voting Technology?
Paper ballots and confusing ballot designs cannot be found in the new age of election machines. Hand recounts in which workers analyze dimples and pregnant- and hangingchads can be avoided with new technology. Most election officials are willing and even eager to update their voting systems but the expense is holding them back. New electronic voting systems cost a considerable
continued on page 7

April 2002

WEB CURRENTS

7

Dangerous Drivers Can Clog PC Traffic

You finally get the new electronic edition of the American Heritage Dictionary and it has

gram wants to make a sound, for example, Windows passes that information to the sound card driver or

a feature that will pronounce an

DVD player, which tells the compo-

entry. Your fourth grade son tells you nent to get busy. Which is fine when

that you are pronouncing the days of it works. But what happens over time

the week incorrectly, and the two of is that the company producing the

you agree to let the new dictionary

component updates the driver. The

settle the question. You search for

company could be repairing a bug or

and find "MONDAY."

adding new or

Then you tell the dictionary to pronounce the word. Nothing happens! The most likely culprit to shoulder the blame for the program failing "to

Has Your DRIVER

additional functionality to the component. You cruise along just fine until

operate as advertised" is an out-of-date driver.

Expired?

you install software that

Welcome to one of the many

expects to see

things about Windows PCs that can the new driver. When it finds your

drive you crazy. One of the most

old driver instead, it pouts, expressing

aggravating is a big group of programs its pique by freezing the system or

called "drivers." Drivers are programs other erratic behavior.

that link internal and external com-

Video and sound cards are prime

ponents to the operating system.

suspects here, but you may also

Examples include an internal sound- encounter grief from SCSI (Small

card or an external DVD player.

Computer Systems Interface) drivers

When a Windows application pro- or scanners. The solution is updating

Voting Technology continued

drivers -- but that's the computing equivalent of "take two aspirin and call me in the morning." Before the Web, updates were accomplished on floppy disks sent from the manufacturer, which still happens this way in some circumstances. Now, it's often done on the component manufacturer's website. It's a good idea to check there for updates, especially before installing a new application.
Be careful about downloading the exact driver for your peripheral. If a manufacturer offers several different versions of the same product, such as a video card, it's important to download the driver for the version you have. If you're not sure, click on the system icon in the Windows Control Panel, then click on Device Manager and then the device in question. Windows will identify it for you. Some drivers are fairly large files, so plan enough time for a lengthy download if a modem connects you to the Internet.
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND THE LAW (ST&L)
RESOURCE CENTER

amount and election officials do not have the funds to buy these systems. Officials are looking to the federal government for financial aid and guidance on upgrading their voting technology. Many officials want the government to develop universal technological standards for new voting machines; however, money and guidance have yet to come from the federal government. As a result, most voting jurisdictions are looking into buying optical scanners, which read darkened ovals that the voter has filled in (like the answer sheets on a high school or college test) rather than the electronic voting machines. Optical scanners are more affordable but not always as reliable as the new

electronic machines.
A Look at the Future The future of election technology
is uncertain right now, but one thing is certain: election technology throughout the country will need to be updated soon. Punch card and lever machines are old and outdated, but new electronic technology is expensive and remote Internet voting is still in its experimental phase. Election officials will have to come to a decision on how to improve the voting technology in their district. The immediate impact would likely affect many Georgia Probate Courts.
Michael Bain

The NCSC has developed a list of science and technology resources to assist legal specialists in researching and qualifying issues that affect court decisions and legislation.
The ST&L website includes an index, frequently asked questions page, and a contacts page. Specialized reference items include "Judges Helping Jurors," "Courtroom of the Future," and "Science 101."
These resources are available on the NCSC website at http://www.ncsc.dni.us/ research/st&l/index.html.

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WEB CURRENTS

April 2002

The Next Generation of Online Travel

There is an e-craze sweeping over Internet users and dancing through the nightmares of travel agencies worldwide. Although booking travel online has only represented 7% of the travel this year, it is projected to triple over the next few years.
Last Minute Travel Deals One Way to Utilize E-Travel Sites
Nearly one-third of all e-commerce transactions in January were made through online travel sites. Companies like Travelocity and Expedia make up about 70% of online travel. There are a number of different companies all offering somewhat different specials; however, when you surf from one site to the next trying to find a last minute flight, you will find that most companies are within a few dollars of each other.
There are exceptions. Take the time to type in your e-mail address when visiting these sites, become a member, and you will be notified of many different affordable last minute travel options. Play golf a few states over just because the local forecast says rain all weekend. Go to the beach, or make a surprise visit to some friends or family. With all these online travel companies campaigning for your business, users no longer have to know where they are going on vacation months ahead of time.

game of online travel, is a full house called Centerpost Inc. Centerpost enables companies to better communicate with members via voicemail, fax, e-mail, wireless, and a revolutionary new two-way messaging technology. Reducing communication costs for Travelocity could possibly create more profitable ways to allocate their finances.
Expedia, which is 70% Microsoft owned, was recently given the 2001 Ziff Davis Smart Business Award. The cards that they are playing involve a new search technology called ESP (Expert Searching and Pricing). ESP averages over 400 price and schedule combinations per round trip. Trying to give the customers more choices and more control over their travel plans might be the secret to Expedia's future success.
Online travel is fast and user friendly and taking advantage of the new technology. What's stopping them now? So far nothing. However a new company has been dealt a hand and they have a slightly different approach to online travel. Orbitz is attempting to boldly go where no online travel site has gone before. Orbitz has agreements with 35 charter member airlines. In these contracts, the airlines have agreed to spend over two million dollars in marketing

Orbitz. Orbitz bypasses all computer reservation systems and goes directly into the airline database. This reduces fees for the customers and the cost that the airlines must pay to intermediaries such as Amedeus Global Travel Distribution, Galileo International, Sabre and Worldspan for using their reservation systems. This might sound like a stacked deck. It was a close call. The company was announced in 1999 and put under a microscope for possible anti-trust violations. After a 10-month investigation, the U.S. Department of Transportation gave Orbitz clearance to enter the game. It's discounts and cutting edge technology are only present for the benefits of the consumer. Will Orbitz increase competition, or will it be the only online travel company left at the card table?
How Can You Save? These services provide direct sav-
ings to judges, court administrators, and court officials. Travel budgets are often among the first line items cut when the economy is slowed. Saving money on travel, lodging, and food could mean that you could get to Las Vegas for the next conference offered by the National Center.
Gavin Cappuccilli

Civil Functional Standards Are Approved

The Future of E-travel What's next for the e-travel indus-
try? Fierce competition. Travelocity and Expedia have a few years experience and a reliable brand name. People have been using Travelocity and Expedia extensively over the past couple of years grossing over 43 billion last year. Travelocity, which is owned by online reservations giant Sabre Holdings, was voted the number one online travel site in the ecommerce travel report by Nielson/Net Ratings. The hand to be played by Travelocity, in this poker

The Civil Functional Standards established by the Consortium for National Case Management Automation are now available. The standards are described on the National Center for State Courts' Functional Standards Page at http://www.ncsc.dni.us/ncsc/ctp/htdocs /standards.htm.
This 77-page report is divided into three parts: Volume 1 and two appendices. Volume 1 Civil Case Processing System Functional Standards contains a detailed description of processing system functions in civil courts. "Civil" includes general and limited jurisdiction case categories, and excludes appeals

filed with civil trial courts from lower courts. However, de novo appeals are included.
Appendix A: Related Technical Considerations describes system capabilities that are not included as standards at this time but could become part of the standards in the future and, thus, warrant coverage in this document.
Appendix B: Electronic Filing covers the Legal XML concept model.
If you have questions or would like to make comments about the standards, please contact Ed Papps at epapps@ncsc.dni.us

April 2002

WEB CURRENTS

9

Website Validation Testing

Testing Enhances Credibility There is nothing more disturbing to a reader or listener than encountering bad grammar, poor punctuation, mispronunciations, or misspelled words in any situation. Their first thought is likely to be "How can I trust the information from someone who can't even spell/write/talk properly?"
Don't let this happen with your website! A website represents the person or organization to which it

belongs -- its beliefs, policies, and capabilities. When a user encounters an error on a web site, a similar question arises -- "How reliable is this information?" So how do you as the web developer (or web developer's supervisor) keep errors to a minimum? Well, one thing that can cheer you up is that a perfect document, print or electronic, has yet to be created. The best you can do is thoroughly test your site, and then have a few

others test it as well.
Murphy's Law Applies Here ... Sort Of
Take your pick. "If anything can go wrong, it will go wrong" or "If it doesn't work, a user will find it." One of these will apply to your site. So take a look at the testing tips and questions below so you can work toward that elusive perfect web site.
Sharon Evans

What You Can Do ...

There are many very useful web sites with information about web testing. These recommendations are from "Web Page Testing Tips" on About.com

Proofread -- Print out a copy of each page. Check spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Have a couple of other people read through it.
Validate Links -- Make sure the hyperlinks will send the user to the right place. Typos can kill you here. During periodic testing look out for "link rot;" external link destinations especially can do a vanishing act.
Validate HTML, XML, etc. -- Coding errors can cause problems not visible on your site accessibility for disabled users, search engine results, etc. Debug your coding using an online validation tool for free! (Go to http://www.about.com. Search for "HTML validation.") Test Browsers -- Yes, Internet

Explorer is the most popular browser right now, but not the only browser. At a minimum, also test your site on Netscape, AOL, and a text-only browser (such as Lynx). If problems arise, check your coding. Browser testing applications are available on the Internet. (Go to http://www.about.com Search for "browser compatibility.")
Check Graphics -- Are your graphics uploaded to the server, or does the HTML path point to your local drive? If your graphics aren't uploaded or your coding is wrong, the users will see that hideous broken image icon. Are your graphics' file sizes as small as possible to reduce load times? And, don't forget the alternate text for each graphic.

Test Functionality -- Test all your scripts, scrolling text, mouseovers, etc. For better accessibility to people with disabilities, don't use them.
Check Resolutions -- Check 640 x 480, 800 x 600, and 1024 x 768 screen areas. Next check the colors at 8-bit, 16-bit, and 24-bit. Use web-safe colors as much as possible.
Text -- Print out your pages. Does the text drop off the right side of the page? Use web standard fonts like Times New Roman or Times, Arial, Helvetica, and Verdana.

After you are sure everything is as it should be, round up a few co-workers or friends truthful ones with a mix of Internet experience levels. Have them run user tests on the site. Why go to all this trouble? Because "If it doesn't work, a user will find it."

Resources
"Web Page Testing Tips" by Jean Kaiser, About.com "Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0," http://www.w3.org/TR/WAI-WEBCONTENT/

Find validation testing tools on About.com search "validation testing," "web testing," "testing tools."

10

WEB CURRENTS

Desktop Monitoring

April 2002

Increasingly, employees in the United States are being monitored by their employers. One-third of the Internet-connected workforce in the United States has its e-mail or Internet use monitored by their employers. The number is increasing quickly as the technology for such monitoring becomes less and less expensive.
Even while your employer monitors what you're looking at, many
Employers should be up front with employees ... about what is acceptable and unacceptable,
... letting employees know if they are being monitored.

the Senate see it as a deterrent to companies breaking online privacy rules. Also, there is an issue of parity with off-line rules. Why should information collected online be treated differently from information collected off-line? Last is the issue of federal preemption of state laws. If Congress does not specifically act to preempt state laws, states could adopt tougher rules, leading to companies having to comply with many different state laws, an idea most businesses feel would drive up costs.
Present policies seem to place the burden of privacy protection on users, forcing them to search for pages that allow them to selectively withhold

data. This is referred to as "opt-in." The user is asked if he or she wants to share data; i.e. consent is sought. Businesses prefer "opt-out," where personal information is stored and used unless otherwise indicated. Companies view personal information as a strategic asset, but consumers may simply not be comfortable with them having it. It seems likely that the traditional idea of simply building a trusting relationship with customers will prove divisive.
As far as privacy in the workplace is concerned, employees should generally stick to the rule of not sending or receiving e-mail that they would
continued on page 11

Protect Your Machine and Your Network

businesses store data about you that can be resold to marketing firms or other businesses. This can be done via cookies which are files saved by web sites to your computer or through forms you fill out at certain web sites. Since July, the U. S. Senate has been discussing online privacy bills to control the methods businesses use to collect information on the Internet. This information is often used for the benefit of the consumer in the form of customized services, but it is still a sensitive issue for those who feel that their privacy is being violated.
The United States Senate is in disagreement over several areas of online privacy. The first is whether or not to give individuals the ability to sue businesses that violate privacy rules. Businesses worry this may lead to frivolous lawsuits, but some members of

Internet viruses have been a hot topic lately, but some experts believe the

public's fear of viruses may be an overreaction. Recent viruses in the news,

including the Code Red, Code Red II, and the SirCam virus are usually much

larger concerns for businesses than individuals.

Some viruses can be potentially damaging to individual computers, such as

SirCam, which is spread via e-mail and can cause the computer's hard drive to

be filled to capacity or completely deleted. Experts agree that simply not

opening e-mail and attachments from unknown senders is the best defense in

preventing a virus from damaging your computer. Many viruses spread via e-

mail have suggestive subject lines to lure people into opening them. A good

rule of thumb is to never open an email attachment you are not expecting,

and if the sender is someone you know, you should call them to double check

first.

Experts also suggest anti-virus software, such as Norton AntiVirus 2001 or

McAfee Virus Scan. Both have large databases of viruses with frequent updates

available to protect from the latest viral threats.

Individual home users with broadband connections, like cable or DSL, are

advised to have a firewall. Firewalls protect computers from hacker attacks by

preventing unauthorized users from gaining access to individual computers or

networks.

Resist the urge to forward virus warnings you receive via e-mail, regardless

of who sent them to you. Most of them are hoaxes forwarded to you by well-

meaning friends or acquaintances and only create needless worry. Some can

be viruses themselves.

Brian Collins

April 2002

WEB CURRENTS

11

e911

911 calls from cell phones have been increasing dramatically over the last few years. In the year 2005, it is expected that a cellular phone will make 80-90% of all 911 emergency calls. Relying on these wireless devices to save lives seems to be the future of 911 emergency responses, but simply dialing 911 isn't always enough. There have been many cases where the caller, for whatever reason, cannot seem to assist the 911 operators in the location of the emergency. A highway motorist who has been in a terrible accident musters up just enough strength to call 911, but remains too disoriented to tell the operator the location. Or maybe a wife dials 911 on her cell phone so the operator can hear the physical abuse she is sustaining.
This could change very soon. New technology is giving 911 a way to track and locate cellular phones to within a few feet. It is being referred to as "e911." Right now only certain

Sprint PCS phones have the global positioning chips that are necessary, and Rhode Island is the only state where tracking such phones is possible. It will take a few more years before all 911 centers have "e911" tracking abilities. The six
largest wireless providers are operating under a patchwork of extensions granted by the FCC to make all cell phones easy to locate. By 2005, 95% of all handsets are to have these location capabilities. Many speculate that

three years to make such drastic changes in wireless technology is not enough. This may or may not be true, but the fact remains that these wireless devices will save lives.
The implications of these developments for the law enforcement community and the courts are tremendous. Victims of family violence have been using cell phones for a while to protect themselves from their abusers. With a cell phone locator, law enforcement will be able to get to the scene quickly. Responding quickly to crimes against the person by location makes for a stronger case after arrest.
Prosecutors will have an additional tool. Judges, court administrators, and court officials will be able to have their location tracked quickly should they experience "car trouble." Parents too would feel reassured when their children are traveling across the state. In short, this is a broadly useful development, unless you don't want others to find you.
Gavin Cappuccilli

The Eighth Court Technology Conference (CTC8) will be held October 28-30, 2003, in Kansas City, Missouri. The State of Georgia has had excellent representation at the only conference devoted to court technology. Mark your calendars for this event in the "Heart of America." The website address is http://www.ctc8.net/
It's only held every other year; the next conference won't be held until 2005! For more information about conference activities, take a look at the website for the 1999 session (http://www.ctc7.net). The contact person for this event is Valerie Hansford, National Center for State Courts, Technology Division, 757259-1571, 757-564-2066 (fax), Vhansford@ncsc.dni.us

Desktop Monitoring continued

not want their boss to see. Employers should be up front with employees, being very clear about what is acceptable and unacceptable, and also letting employees know if they are being monitored. It may seem to be common sense to monitor employees in order to catch "slackers," but handling it the wrong way could also lead to an atmosphere of hostility and suspicion in the office. While this has been brought up in Congress, it has not gotten very far since it is largely driven by employers and not employees.

A committee of federal judges recently pared down a proposal requiring judiciary staff to forfeit online privacy in the workplace. Several judges and members of Congress disagreed with a proposal containing guidelines for acceptable use of computers by 30,000 federal court employees. The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts installed intrusion detection software without notice and consent. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals disabled the software earlier this year calling it a needless invasion of privacy.
Brian Collins

A Road Warrior's Survival Guide
Some items for the 'Road Warriors' out there. Protect your hardware, software, and stay in touch!

IBM Modem Saver: checks the wall outlet to see if the connection is older than your technology high voltage means a burned out motherboard (about $30)
BACKUP! This is just as critical on the road as it is at the office. It's a good idea to backup to your office's network.
Always use a laptop surge protector when plugging in offsite locations. Sure it's a hassle, but you are more likely to get a surge at a motel than in your office. (about $25 or less)
Have a boot disk with DOS CDROM drivers and a CD-R with all the software you need on the road in case something happens and, yes it will.
Consider carrying a spare battery.

Have phone numbers and serial numbers necessary to get service close at hand (taped to the bottom of the laptop).
Never let your laptop out of sight, especially in a public place. Laptop locks are available from MicroSaver and MasterLock. Most thefts of laptops are in airports or hotels and motels. Lock it to something immobile.
Consider carrying a laptop case that doesn't necessarily look like one. Kensington offers a backpack style case that's comfortable, roomy, and reasonably priced ($69).
18' retractable phone cord from iGo.com ($18) and 1 meter printer cable ($9).
Swiss Army Knife: does everything else and will work on a computer. ($35)

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MICHAEL BAIN Technical Writer